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Hanoi is the World’s Most Polluted City

The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is classified as the most polluted city in the world.

The city was shrouded in a thick haze of pollution yesterday that made it difficult to see tall buildings and caused the city’s nearly nine million residents to breathe poisonous air.

Hanoi has often been ranked among the most polluted cities in the world, in recent years. It is partly due to extensive construction and fumes from the large number of motorbikes and cars that cross  the capital daily.

Carbon emissions from coal plants in the north and open burning for agricultural purposes are exacerbating the problem.

Last month, dozens of flights were affected when a thick haze enveloped Hanoi and produced a spike in air pollution and reduced visibility. Weather forecasters have issued regular warnings of thick haze, especially in the mountainous regions of northeastern Vietnam.

The World Bank’s latest report on air pollution says 40 percent of residents in Hanoi are exposed to concentrations nearly five times higher than WHO-defined safe guidelines.

The city also ranked first on air monitoring website IQAir as the most polluted city in the world since late yesterday afternoon.Pollutant levels are recorded at PM2.5, which are cancer-causing micro-particles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs. It is classified as ‘very unhealthy’ and exceeds 24 times the annual guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO says a number of serious health problems are linked to air pollution exposure, including stroke, heart disease and lung cancer.

One Motorcyclist Dies every Two Hours

Data from Malaysian authorities shows a very worrying statistic: One motorcyclist dies every two hours.

The statistics also show that 2023 is the most deadly year, with 6,443 deaths due to road accidents. It is the highest figure in five years.

Based on the data, there is an average of 18 deaths per day. It equates to one death every 80 minutes.

Motorcyclists are still the most high risk group, as two-thirds of those killed are motorcycle riders and pillions. A total of 4,480 motorcycle riders and passengers died in 2023.

This fact was revealed by the Malaysian Transport Minister, Dato’ Anthony Loke during a press conference at Parliament here, yesterday.

In another development, he also said that the Road Transport Department and the Royal Malaysian Police will publish information on the number of accidents and deaths due to road accidents in real time daily.

He hopes that this step can rasise public awareness toward road safety because road accidents are the main contributor to the death rate in this country. The method is akin to posting daily statistics for Covid-19 cases in the past.

The main difference is reporting on road accidents and deaths resulting from them daily, rather than traditionally as a total annually.

Govt Allows Computerised Highway Code Test at Driving Institutes

Do you remember when you sat for the Computerized Highway Code test (KPP01) otherwise known as ujian undang-undang before moving on to the practical test for your driver’s license?

Depending to the driving institute we chose, we have to go to another driving institute or computerized test center to sit for the Highway Code test. But this difficulty can be avoided or reduced soon. The government has announced that they allow driving institutes to operate computerised test centers at their respective premises starting this April.

The Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke said, this will enable candidates to take the KPP test and the circuit test at the same place thus making it easier for them and reducing the waiting time.

“However, the driving institute that intends to open the test center is required to offer eTesting for circuit testing. Approved driving institutes will be required to also provide an eTesting system within one year,” he said.

This is possible as the data and questions are centralized and under the full control of the Road Transport Department (JPJ), allowing for computerized tests to be conducted at the driving institutes’ premises.

“This ia an initiative by the ministry and JPJ to simplify the requirements of owning a Malaysian Driving License and further support digitalisation of services,” he said.

Loke also said the maximum price for the KPP test is set at RM17 for motorcycles and RM27 for other vehicles.

Prototype Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 Breaks Cover

Remember we posted earlier about the Husqvarna Vitpilen 901? It turns out that we were off the mark as the prototype Husqvarna Svartpilen 801 was revealed, instead.

Previously, there was a previous teaser video which prompted the 5th March “full edit” video. It showed a bike being taken through its paces on a frozen surface, complete with spiked tyres. Still, it confirmed the arrival of a bigger Svartpilen/Vitpilen.

Husqvarna Vitpilen 901 is (Finally) Coming?

The new video called “A tale of dirt and ice” shows the prototype Svartpilen 801 in its entirety on a frozen lake and flattrack oval.

Husqvarna says the bike will weigh some 181kg, although it was not revealed if this is the dry or kerb weight. The engine, which is the LC8c shared with 790 Duke, produces 103.6 hp. That is actually slightly more than the 790 Duke’s 103.3 hp.

Husky is now owned by the Pierer Mobility Group, who in turn owns KTM, among other brands. Thus, it is safe to assume that this coming bike shares the same underpinnings with the 790 KTM, as with other models in the Husqvarna lineup. Examples are the Svartpilen 401 and Vitpilen 401.

As such, the twin-cylinder LC8c engine will be attached to a steel frame. The same type of swingarm also appears in the video. The main difference here is the subframe, most likely to facilitate flattrack riding in the video. And of course, the WP Apex forks since WP Suspension also belongs to Pierer Mobility.

On the electronics front, the bike may well include Supermoto ABS mode which allows the rider to slide the rear wheel. The rider in the video can be seen performing such stunt. We can look forward to a TFT screen with multimedia connectivity, traction control, quickshifter, and so on as with the 790 Duke.

Husqvarna says, “The all-new middleweight model has been engineered to deliver a powerful combination of performance, agility and contemporary style to take riding to even greater heights.

“The versatility of the Svartpilen 801 is enhanced further by state-of-the-art electronic rider aids, including Easy Shift [an up/down quickshifter] for seamless gear changes, as standard.”

So what is next? The full world reveal will be on 19th March 2024 so stay tuned! And of course, a Vitpilen 801 will surely follow in the near future.

What are the Standards for Brake Pads?

Needless to say, brake pads are part of what makes the brake system as a whole operate, and it is true for regardless if it is a hydraulic or drum system. No brake pad, no brakes! So, what are the standards for brake pads?

So, what is/are the standards?

Firstly, we must always start by determining the need for standards.

Standards call for repeatable testing methods that usually resonate with advancements. Standards also ensure that any tested and approved product meets a certain set of requirements – usually for safety benefits to consumers. On the other hand, manufacturers could do anything as the please to the detriment of consumers. The best example is the motorcycle helmet.

So, for brake pads, especially imported ones, are tested and approved through:

ECE R90

  • “ECE” stands for Economic Commission of Europe. Also sometimes marked as “CE” for Conformité Européenne.
  • “R” stands for Regulation.
  • “90” is the number of the standard. (Remember that motorcycle helmet falls under R22?)

Virtually any product sold in the European Union countries must be test and certified to their respective standards.

How about Malaysia?

Malaysia has her own standards for brake pads, namely:

MS1164:2015

  • “MS” stands for Malaysian Standards.
  • “1164” is the standard’s number.
  • “2015” is the year of the revision.

And which standard should I go by?

The MS1164:2015 came into effect as of 1st November 2015 and brake pads made in Malaysia must have these letters printed on the pads’ backing plate.

Imported pads should have the ECE R90 standard printed on them. But the importer or producer may also seek the approval of the MS1164:2015 standard.

Best to go for brake pads that are certified to ECE R90 or MS1164:2015 or both. DO NOT compromise on brake pads or any brake component, for that matter, because they involve yours and your loved ones’ safety.

We shall touch more on the tests involved in the near future.

Government Urged to Abolish Gombak and Karak Toll Plazas

Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian) urged the government to abolish the Gombak and Karak tolls to reduce traffic congestion on the highway.

According to him, users need to stop at four toll plazas to use the East Coast Highway (LPT).

“For example, on the east coast highway, we have four tolls where users have to stop. The Gombak Toll, the Bentong Toll, the Karak Toll and the exit. As for easing the burden on users, the government should use two methods. Only when entering and exiting.

“(As such) two tolls need to be abolished. The Gombak toll and the Karak toll do not need to be held because they cause slow traffic and congestion,” he said during the royal decree debate session.

Commenting further, Tuan Ibrahim who is also the Leader of the Pahang State Opposition and Deputy President of PAS claimed that highway congestion is now one of the failures of the ministry and operators.

“I see this as a failure on the part of the ministry and the operators who operate the highway. Highway congestion is extreme and occurs throughout the country, especially in toll plaza areas,” he said.

In the meantime, he also urged the government to ensure that there is no road repair or patching work during peak hours.

“Yesterday I came back from Kota Bharu. Concession workers are repairing the highway over the bridge in the highway area in Kemaman. There are many cars during peak hours and yet they chose to repair the patch on the bridge. This should not happen and we ask the government to make sure there is no road repairs at peak user times which cause extreme congestion,” he said.

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Ducati Diavel V4 Makes Its Way To Malaysia – RM178,900

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MV Agusta Abandons Lucky Explorer Moniker In Favour Of “Enduro Veloce”

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BMW Motorrad GS Challenge 2023 Crowns Its Champions In Thrilling Off-Road Showdown

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BMW Halts Sales Of Gas-Powered Motorcycles In North America

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Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650 Now In Malaysia – From RM37,900

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TVS Racing Electric One Make Championship Announced 

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BMW Motorrad Drops New Teaser For The Upcoming R 1300 GS

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